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Why we campaign

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Why we campaign

Concern's advocacy work is dedicated to campaigning on behalf of some the world's poorest people. Through this work we engage decision makers and the general public to raise awareness and push development issues up the political agenda.

Our policy influencing activities aim to bring about positive and sustainable change for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Over the years we have had some great successes, and these would not have been possible without the hard work of so many of our dedicated supporters. Join us and get involved today.

Here are some of the ways we achieve lasting change for the poorest people.

Previous campaigns

50 million promises

In 2015, the UK government pledged to improve nutrition for 50 million people around the globe who would otherwise go hungry. But when we tracked their nutrtion spending, we realised that the government wasn’t investing enough to hit its 50 million target. Missing that target would leave millions at greater risk of illness or even death. Funding better nutrition means more people will escape poverty on their own, without needing further support.

So we launched a campaign calling on the UK Government not to break its “50 million promises” and spend more on high-impact activities, which make a substantial difference to people’s diets. We sent the petition to Theresa May petition before the 2017 general election.

Turn Up Save Lives

Over the course of several years, alongside our supporters, Concern campaigned to encourage the UK government to reach an expenditure of 0.7% of national income on overseas development assistance. This started in 2013 lobbying the government with hundreds of other charities to ensure the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the 0.7% target would be met that year. The summer of the following year, through the campaign Turn Up Save Lives, we mobilised our supporters to contact MPs about the Bill which was tabled in July 2014 by Michael Moore MP.

From the beginning of 2015 we kept the pressure on Parliamentarians by ensuring that as many Lords supportive of the aid commitment were in the Chamber of the House of Lords at each debate to get the Bill passed. On Monday 9 March 2015, the 40 year old promise took its penultimate step in Parliament towards becoming law and soon after made its way to Buckingham Palace to get Royal Assent from the Queen.

Thanks to the support of our campaigners, we ensured that the UK's promise to the world's poorest has been law ever since.

Policy reports

Each year, we publish the annual Global Hunger Index (GHI) with our partners International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH). The report tracks the state of hunger worldwide and country by country, and spotlights those regions and countries where action to address hunger is most urgently needed. Read the most recent report, the 2016 GHI.

Concern in Parliament

Concern works in parliament on a regular basis meeting with MPs and peers to discuss issues affecting some of the world’s poorest communities. We also work every day with policy makers in the Department for International Development, its ministers and parliamentarians to ensure that the aid budget is spent in the most effective and efficient way.

Important links (Concern Worldwide)

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Concern Worldwide (UK) is a Company Limited By Guarantee And Not Having A Share Capital (Registered in England and Wales with registered number 4323646) which has been granted Charitable Status by The Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Number 1092236) and The Office of The Scottish Charity Regulator (Registered Number SCO38107). The Registered Offices of Concern Worldwide (UK) are 13/14 Calico House, Plantation Wharf, London, SW11 3TN. Concern Worldwide (UK) is a subsidiary organisation of Concern Worldwide an Irish Registered Charity.